Body puff ball with an oscillating and vibratory action

ABSTRACT

A spherical base member having a plurality of mesh elements extending outwardly therefrom, covering substantially the entire surface of the spherical base member. The spherical base member comprises two hemispheres, one of which has a motor mounted therein with a drive shaft extending therefrom. The drive shaft mates with a receiving element in the other hemisphere. The motor with a microprocessor controller produces an oscillation of the other hemisphere at a selected frequency and amplitude and a vibration of the lower hemisphere at approximately the same frequency.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to body puffs, and more specifically toa body puff having an improved cleansing capability.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A traditional body puff, sometimes referred to as a puff ball or showerpuff, comprises a plurality individual sections of mesh fabric attachedor configured together to form a ball, with a loop handle.Traditionally, puff balls are used in the shower with water andcleansing lotion, to provide convenient skin cleansing, by brushing thepuff ball over the entire body or a selected portion thereof. Whilequite popular, in actual use the conventional puff ball has a ratherlimited cleansing effect, and depends on the diligence and effort of theuser.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is a handheld skin cleansingappliance, comprising: a hollow base member having two separateportions; a plurality of mesh fabric elements attached to and extendingfrom an exterior surface of the base member; and a motor mounted in oneof said two portions of the base member, the motor having a driveshaftextending therefrom, the other of said two portions of the base memberhaving a receiving element which is connected to and driven by theaction of the motor driveshaft, wherein action of the motor driveshaftproduces an oscillatory action of the other portion of the base memberand movement of the mesh elements extending therefrom and a vibratoryaction of the one portion of the base member and movement of the meshelements extending therefrom, to produce in operation a skin cleansingfunction when used against the skin.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the puff ball assembly of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded/partially cutaway view of the puff ball of thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a puff ball assembly attachable to anoscillating action skin care appliance.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows the exterior of an improved body puff or puff ball 10 ofthe present invention. It includes a center element 12 in the form of ahollow sphere. The sphere 12 is approximately 2-3 inches in diameter,although the size can be varied. While a sphere shape is generallypreferred, the center element can be other shapes as well, such aselongated, elliptical or square. The sphere 12 has two portions; in theembodiment shown there are two hemispheres 13 and 15, shown more clearlyin FIG. 2. The material comprising the sphere could be stiff, such ashard plastic, or it could be flexible, such as rubber or similarmaterial.

Attached to the exterior surface 14 of the sphere are a large pluralityof individual mesh elements 16-16. Typically, the mesh elements coverthe surface of the sphere, extending outwardly 2-3 inches from thesurface thereof so that the puff ball of the present invention hasgenerally the same exterior appearance as a conventional puff ball, ascan be seen from FIG. 1, approximately 5-6 inches in diameter. The meshmaterial is capable of conveniently passing water therethrough. Thematerial is typically nylon, since it is also important that the unitdry rapidly.

FIG. 2 is an exploded, partially cutaway view of the sphere 12 showingthe interior 18 of the lower hemisphere 13, with an assembly 20 formoving the two hemispheres of sphere 12 in such a way as to also movethe mesh elements thereon and improve cleansing. The two hemispheresshown in FIG. 2 are generally equal in size, but the lower one may belarger, as shown, as it contains various elements. Mounted in the lowerhemisphere 13 is a motor 22, along with a microprocessor controller 24.The motor is powered by a battery 26 which is rechargeable by aconventional charging assembly with one part 28 in the lower hemisphere13 and the other part 30 in a charger 32 which is connected to wallpower.

Motor 22 may be mounted in the lower hemisphere 13 by any conventionalmeans, including support ridges 36 in the hemispheres and matingextension elements or tabs 38 from the motor casing. Other arrangements,including adhesives or welding can also be used to mount the motor.Extending from motor 22 is a drive shaft 40. The drive shaft 40 extendsupward into a receiving element 42 in the upper hemisphere. Elements 44and 46 are respectively configured to ensure a tight fit between the twohemispheres to prevent the hemisphere from coming apart while permittingmovement thereof discussed below. Attached to the outer surface of thelower hemisphere is a conventional hand loop 50.

Motor 22 is controlled to drive the upper hemisphere in an oscillatoryaction. This action is similar to other “sonic” devices, having afrequency in the range of 150-180 Hz, and an amplitude in the range of6°-12°, although these values can vary depending upon thecharacteristics of the motor. The oscillating action of the upperhemisphere (moving the extension elements) provides an improvedcleansing action for the body puff. In addition, the action of the motorproduces a vibration of the lower hemisphere with a similar frequency asthat of the oscillation of the upper hemisphere. This action alsoimproves the cleansing effect of the complete puff ball. While in otherappliances, vibration of the motor unit in addition to the oscillatingaction produced by the motor is undesirable and is typically dampened insome way, the motor vibration in the present invention produces anadditional cleansing effect by vibrating the lower hemisphere. Theoscillating action of the upper hemisphere and the vibrating action oflower hemisphere produces corresponding movement of the mesh elementsattached thereto. This produces an improved skin cleansing action over aconventional body puff.

The motor could alternatively be what is referred to as a wobble motor,which provide a shaking or shimmy action, due to slight displacement ofthe drive shaft, alone or in addition to the oscillating action.

In another arrangement, shown in FIG. 3, a hemisphere or other shape 60is configured to be removably mountable to a conventional skin brushhandle 62 such as the Clarisonic Skin Brush or similar device, such asshown in U.S. Pat. No. 7,386,906, owned by the assignee of the presentinvention and incorporated by reference herein. The handle 62 includesconventional controls, including an on-off switch 63 and perhaps,various speeds. The hemispheres or other shaped unit includes aplurality of mesh elements 64, like those described above. Theconventional drive system (motor and microprocessor controls 64) for theskin brush can provide the desired frequency and amplitude movement forthe hemisphere (or other shaped element) described above.

In a variation of this embodiment, a wobble motor 66 can be mounted inthe hemisphere 60, providing an independent shimmy action or a shimmyaction combined with the oscillation action from the skin brush.

Although a preferred embodiment has been disclosed for purposes ofillustration, it should be understood that various changes,modifications and substitutions may be incorporated in the preferredembodiment without departing from the spirit of the invention as definedby the claims which follow:

What is claimed is:
 1. A handheld skin cleansing appliance, comprising:a hollow base member having two separate portions; a plurality of meshfabric elements attached to and extending from an exterior surface ofthe base member; and a motor mounted in one of said two portions of thebase member, the motor having a driveshaft extending therefrom, theother of said two portions of the base member having a receiving elementwhich is connected to and driven by the action of the motor driveshaft,wherein action of the motor driveshaft produces an oscillatory action ofthe other portion of the base member and movement of the mesh elementsextending therefrom and a vibratory action of the one portion of thebase member and movement of the mesh elements extending therefrom, toproduce in operation a skin cleansing function when used against theskin.
 2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the base member is spherical.3. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the vibration of the one portion isapproximately the same frequency as the oscillation of the otherportion.
 4. The appliance of claim 2, wherein the one and the otherportions of the base member are hemispheres.
 5. The appliance of claim1, wherein the motor is battery powered and rechargeable.
 6. Theappliance of claim 1, wherein the base member is a flexible material. 7.The appliance of claim 6, wherein the flexible material is rubber. 8.The appliance of claim 1, wherein the base member is a stiff plastic. 9.The appliance of claim 1, wherein the base member is 2-3 inches indiameter and wherein the mesh elements are in the range of 2-3 inches inlength.
 10. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the mesh elements arenylon.
 11. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the oscillating action hasa frequency of 150-180 Hz and an amplitude of 6°-12°.
 12. The applianceof claim 1, wherein the motor is a wobble motor, producing a wobblemotion in addition to the oscillating action.
 13. A handheld skin brushappliance, comprising: a handle; a motor mounted in the handle providingan oscillating drive action at an output connection; an attachmentmember removably mounted to the output connection, the attachment memberhaving a plurality of mesh elements attached to and extending from anexterior surface thereof, wherein in operation, the motor's oscillatingaction is transmitted to the attachment member for correspondingmovement thereof, to produce in operation a skin cleansing function whenused against the skin.
 14. The appliance of claim 13, wherein theattachment member is hemispherical.
 15. The appliance of claim 13,including a wobble motor mounted in the attachment member to produce awobble or shimmy action alone or in combination with the oscillatingaction of the handle motor.
 16. The appliance of claim 13, wherein theoscillating action has a frequency of 150-180 Hz and an amplitude of6°-12°.
 17. The appliance of claim 13, wherein the mesh elements are inthe range of 2-3 inches in length.
 18. The appliance of claim 13,wherein the attachment member is a flexible material.
 19. The applianceof claim 13, wherein the attachment member is a stiff plastic.
 20. Theappliance of claim 13, wherein the mesh elements are nylon.
 21. Anattachment member for use with a skin brush appliance with a handlehaving a motor mounted therein providing an oscillating drive action atan output connection; wherein the attachment member is removablymountable to the output connection, the attachment member having aplurality of mesh elements attached to and extending from an exteriorsurface thereof, wherein in operation with the appliance, the motor'soscillating action is transmitted to the attachment member forcorresponding movement thereof, to produce in operation a skin cleansingfunction when used against the skin.
 22. The attachment member of claim21, including a wobble motor mounted in the attachment member to producea wobble or shimmy action alone or in combination with the oscillatingaction provided by the handle motor.
 23. The attachment member of claim21, wherein the mesh elements are in the range of 2-3 inches in length.24. The attachment member of claim 21, wherein the attachment member isa stiff plastic.